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Margie Anderson, a retired parole officer, recently became one of Sonoma County's 62 law enforcement chaplains. The chaplains are called upon to help when tragedy strikes, working with law enforcement officers to help families cope with life-changing events.
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THE POWER OF SILENCE
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Published on June 4, 2006
Byline: Rayne Wolfe, The Press Democrat
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LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAIN WITH COMFORTING PRESENCE HELPS FAMILIES IN TIME OF TRAGEDY
A baby dies in its sleep. A traffic light clicks from red to green, and a car crash claims multiple lives.
When tragedy strikes, a network of professionals comes together to support families dealing with life's most difficult events.
For Santa Rosan Margie Anderson, who volunteers with the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Program, standing shoulder to shoulder with the police officer on someone's front porch is part of the job.
"I had been on a spiritual quest for quite some time and it led me to this point. My job as a law enforcement chaplain is to be a silent support. I've learned how powerful that is," she said.
A retired parole officer, Anderson is a graduate of the most recent Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Academy, which was founded in 1999. She attended free classes once each week for six months. She is now one of 62 local law enforcement chaplains.
Anderson is on call two days a month. When needed, she puts on a uniform of dark slacks and a shirt with a simple clerical collar. Her blazer has the word "Chaplain" in large letters across the back.
She's new enough to still have jitters.
"I always have a hard time going to sleep that first night. I worry. What if I'm called at 3 a.m.? Will I be awake enough to be compassionate?" she said.
Academy director Beverly Liberman of Healdsburg said Anderson has what she looks for in volunteers. Her personality meshed with police, and she is calm.
"Margie came to us with an already clear understanding of how to work with law enforcement. That's a big plus. She is calm in a crisis and she has presence, even without talking," Liberman said.
Serving others can include sharing information, leaving pamphlets or books, making phone calls for a distraught person, receiving visitors or just making coffee. Chaplains also must refrain from evangelizing, preaching or giving advice.
"I remember once, a woman who had lost a loved one was very distraught that her house was messy and relatives were coming over. With her permission, I cleaned up her kitchen. That's what was needed," Liberman said.
The chaplaincy service is available to all law enforcement agencies in Sonoma County, including the CHP, which summons chaplaincy volunteers to accident scenes when needed.
"They provide an invaluable service. Generally, coroners make death notifications, but in some situations, officers and chaplains do it. They have grief support training and that's not an appropriate role for us," said Barbara Upham, a CHP spokeswoman.
"When you talk about community, it is a collective effort. Police, chaplains, even hospice, they come together when people need help," Upham said.
The volunteer job is not for people who like to take over and fix things. The chaplain is more of a human bridge to one person's own coping network of family and friends.
"We're not counselors. We don't do anything unless we are asked. And when it's time to go, we go," Liberman said.
Chaplains check on people they visited by making a phone call the next day. But they do not insert themselves in funeral plans, family gatherings or coffee dates to chat.
"Actually, that's a part I like about the work. We are very needed. But I go in and then I go out," Liberman said.
The next Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Service training academy starts Sept. 12 and finishes April 7. Three-hour training sessions are held on Tuesday nights.
Training is supported by donations and fund-raisers, including a Sept. 16 Pasta Feast at St. Eugene Cathedral in Santa Rosa.
To learn more or to request an application, call Liberman at 290-6174 or e-mail her at bliberman4@comcast.net.
You can reach Staff Writer Rayne Wolfe at 521-5240 or rwolfe@pressdemocrat.com.
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